The Religious Disabilities Act 1846 (9 & 10 Vict. c. 59) was an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which repealed several laws restricting religious freedom.
Provisions The laws and observances abolished were specified by various acts of the Parliament of England, Parliament of Great Britain, or Parliament of Ireland. These acts were repealed in full where they had no other purpose than establishing the relevant observance, and otherwise repealed only in relation to the observance.
Repealed enactments Section 1 of the act repealed 25 enactments, listed in that section. CitationShort titleLong titleExtent of repealN/AN/AThe Statute or Ordinance of the Fifty-fourth and Fifty-fifth Years of the Reign of King Henry the Third, and the Statute or Ordinance commonly called Statutum Judæismo.The whole act.5 & 6 Edw. 6. c. 1Act of Uniformity 1551an Act passed in the Fifth and Sixth Years of the Reign of King Edward the Sixth, intituled An Act for the Uniformity of Service and Administration of Sacraments throughout the Realm. As enacts "that from and after Feast of All Saints next coming all and every Person and Persons inhabiting within this Realm, or any other of the King's Majesty's Dominions, shall diligently and faithfully, having no lawful or reasonable Excuse to be absent, endeavour themselves to resort to their Parish Church or Chapel accustomed, or, upon reasonable Let thereof, to some usual Place where Common Prayer and such Service of God shall be used in such Time of Let, upon every Sunday, and other Days ordained and used to be kept as holy Days, and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the Time of Common Prayer, Preachings, or other Service of God there to be used and ministered, upon Pain of Punishment by the Censures of the Church", so far as the same affected persons dissenting from the worship or doctrines of the United Church of England and Ireland, and usually attending place of worship other than the Established Church. (This repeal was subject to a proviso that no pecuniary penalty was to be imposed upon any person by reason of his so absenting himself as aforesaid.) As enactes "that if any Manner of Person or Persons inhabiting and being within this Realme, or any other the King's Majesty's Dominions, shall, after the said Feast of All Saints, willingly and wittingly hear and be present at any other Manner or Form of Common Prayer, of Administration of the Sacraments, of making of Ministers in the Churches, or of any other Rites contained in the Book annexed to this Act than is mentioned and set forth in the said Book, or that is contrary to the Form of sundry Provisions and Exceptions contained in the aforesaid former Statute, and shall be thereof convicted according to the Laws of this Realm, before the Justices of Assize, the Justices of Oyer and Determiner, Justices of Peace in their Sessions, or any of them, by the Verdict of Twelve Men, or by his or their own Confession, or otherwise, shall, for the First Offence suffer Imprisonment for Six Months, without Bail or Mainprize, and for the Second offence, being likewise convicted as is above-said, Imprisonment for One whole Year, and for the Third Offence, in the like Manner, Imprisonment during his or their Lives". As enactes "that for the more Knowledge to be given hereof, and better Observation of this Law, all and singular Curates shall, upon one Sunday every Quarter of the Year, during One whole Year next following the foresaid Feast of All Saints next coming, read this present Act in the Church at the Time of the most Assembly, and likewise once in every Year following, at the same Time declaring unto the People, by the Authority of the Scripture, how the Mercy and Goodness of God hath in all Ages been shown to his People in their Necessities and Extremities, by means of hearty and faithful Prayers made to Almighty God, especially where People be gathered together with One Faith and Mind to offer up their Hearts by Prayer as the best Sacrifices that Christian Men can yield". "So much of any Act or Acts of the Parliament of Ireland as may have extended to Ireland the provisions of the act, so far as the same was thereby repealed."I.e., sections 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6.1 Eliz. 1. c. 1Act of Supremacy 1558An Act passed in the First Year of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth, intituled An Act to restore to the Crown the ancient Jurisdiction over the Estate Ecclesiastical and Spiritual, and abolishing all Foreign Powers repugnant to the same. As makes it punishable to affirm, hold, stand with, set forth, maintain, or defend, as therein is mentioned, the Authority, Pre-eminence, Power, or Jurisdiction, Spiritual or Ecclesiastical, of any Foreign Prince, Prelate, Person, State, or Potentate theretofore claimed, used, or usurped within this Realm, or any Dominion or Country being within or under the Power, Dominion, or Obeisance of Her Highness, or to put in ure or execute any thing for the extolling, Advancement, setting forth, Maintenance, or De- fence of any such pretended or usurped Jurisdiction, Power, Pre-eminence, and Authority, or any Part thereof, or to abet, aid, procure, or counsel any Person so offending : Provided always, and be it declared, that nothing in this Enactment contained shall authorize or render it lawful for any Person or Persons to affirm, hold, stand with, set forth, maintain, or defend any such Foreign Power, Pre-eminence, Jurisdiction, or Authority, nor shall the same extend further than to the Repeal of the particular Penalties and Punishments therein referred to, but in all other respects the Law shall continue the same as if this Enactment had not been made: Provided further, that if any Person in Holy Orders according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland shall affirm, hold, stand with, set forth, maintain, or defend any such Foreign Power, Pre-eminence, Jurisdiction, or Authority, such Person shall be incapable of holding any Ecclesiastical Promotion, and, if in possession of any such Promotion, may be deprived thereof by due Course of Law, in the same Manner as for any other Cause of Deprivation. As relates to a Person's resorting to his Parish Church or Chapel accustomed, or, upon reasonable Let thereof, to some usual Place where Common Prayer and such Service of God as in such Acts are mentioned are used in such Time of Let, upon Sundays and other Days ordained and used to be kept as holy Days, and to his then and there abiding orderly and soberly during the Time of the Common Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God there used and ministered.1 Eliz. 1. c. 2Act of Uniformity 1558An Act for the Uniformity of Common Prayer and Service in the Church, and the Administration of Sacraments. As relates to a Person's resorting to his Parish Church or Chapel accustomed, or, upon reasonable Let thereof, to some usual Place where Common Prayer and such Service of God as in such Acts are mentioned are used in such Time of Let, upon Sundays and other Days ordained and used to be kept as holy Days, and to his then and there abiding orderly and soberly during the Time of the Common Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God there used and ministered.2 Eliz. 1. c. 2 (I)Act of Supremacy (Ireland) 1560An Act of the Parliament of Ireland passed in the Second Year of the same Queen's Reign, intituled An Act restoring to the Crown the auncient Jurisdiction of the State Ecclesiasticall and Spirituall, and abolishing all Forreinne Power repugnant to the same. As makes it punishable to affirm, hold, stand with, set forth, maintain, or defend, as therein is mentioned, the Authority, Pre-eminence, Power, or Jurisdiction, Spiritual or Ecclesiastical, of any Foreign Prince, Prelate, Person, State, or Potentate theretofore claimed, used, or usurped within this Realm, or any Dominion or Country being within or under the Power, Dominion, or Obeisance of Her Highness, or to put in ure or execute any thing for the extolling, Advancement, setting forth, Maintenance, or De- fence of any such pretended or usurped Jurisdiction, Power, Pre-eminence, and Authority, or any Part thereof, or to abet, aid, procure, or counsel any Person so offending : Provided always, and be it declared, that nothing in this Enactment contained shall authorize or render it lawful for any Person or Persons to affirm, hold, stand with, set forth, maintain, or defend any such Foreign Power, Pre-eminence, Jurisdiction, or Authority, nor shall the same extend further than to the Repeal of the particular Penalties and Punishments therein referred to, but in all other respects the Law shall continue the same as if this Enactment had not been made: Provided further, that if any Person in Holy Orders according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the United Church of England and Ireland shall affirm, hold, stand with, set forth, maintain, or defend any such Foreign Power, Pre-eminence, Jurisdiction, or Authority, such Person shall be incapable of holding any Ecclesiastical Promotion, and, if in possession of any such Promotion, may be deprived thereof by due Course of Law, in the same Manner as for any other Cause of Deprivation. As relates to a Person's resorting to his Parish Church or Chapel accustomed, or, upon reasonable Let thereof, to some usual Place where Common Prayer and such Service of God as in such Acts are mentioned are used in such Time of Let, upon Sundays and other Days ordained and used to be kept as holy Days, and to his then and there abiding orderly and soberly during the Time of the Common Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God there used and ministered.5 Eliz. 1. c. 1Supremacy of the Crown Act 1562An Act passed in the Fifth Year of the same Queen's Reign, intituled An Act for the Assurance of the Queen's Royal Power over all Estates and Subjects within Her DominionsThe whole act.13 Eliz. 1. c. 2Bulls, etc., from Rome Act 1571An Act passed in the Thirteenth Year of the same Queen's Reign, intituled An Act against the bringing in and putting in execution of Bulls, Writings, or Instruments, and other superstitious Things from the See of Rome.So far only as the same imposes the Penalties or Punishments therein mentioned; but it is hereby declared that nothing in this Enactment contained shall authorize or render it lawful for any Person or Persons to import, bring in, or put in execution within this Realm any such Bulls, Writings, or Instruments, and that in all respects, save as to the said Penalties or Punishments, the Law shall continue the same as if this Enactment had not been made.29 Eliz. 1. c. 6Religion Act 1586An Act passed in the Twenty-ninth Year of the same Queen's Reign, intituled An Act for the more speedy and due Execution of certain Branches of the Statute made in the Twenty-third Year of the Queen's Majesty's Reign, intituled 'An Act to retain the Queen's Majesty's Subjects in their due Obedience'.The whole act.1 Jas. 1. c. 4Jesuits etc. Act 1603An Act passed in the First Year of the Reign of King James the First, intituled An Act for the due Execution of the Statutes against Jesuits, Seminary Priests, Recusants, &c.The whole act.3 Jas. 1. c. 1Observance of 5th November Act 1605An Act passed in the Third Year of the Reign of the said King James the First, intituled An Act for a public Thanksgiving to Almighty God every Year on the Fifth Day of November.As enacts, "that all and every Person and Persons inhabiting within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same shall always upon that Day diligently and faithfully resort to the Parish Church or Chapel accustomed, or to some usual Church or Chapel where the said Morning Prayer, Preaching, or other Service of God shall be used, and then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the Time of the said Prayers, Preaching, or other Service of God there to be used and ministered".